Hiring a car abroad

How to reduce the cost and avoid the pitfalls

Hiring a car anywhere abroad should be a relatively easy and transparent process

Hiring a car anywhere abroad should be a relatively easy and transparent process, but very often it is not and is something that can cost you dear when you get home.

The array of insurances and confusions of conditions of hire can make it virtually impossible to make an informed judgement – there's a chance that you either take out unnecessary insurance or face additional and often considerable costs later.

Plan ahead

If you leave it to the last minute and simply pick a hire desk at random when you arrive at your destination airport you'll have no idea if you're getting a good deal or not.

Airports have a captive audience and prices are likely to reflect this, besides which, if you've already been waiting in line for an hour you are unlikely to be in the mood to read carefully through the conditions of hire before you sign the agreement.

The best advice is to plan ahead and book in advance, before you travel, if you can. This will give you plenty of time to read and understand the conditions of hire and consider the cost and value of any additional charges.

If you do your research online before you go you will be able to work out the total cost, including any fixed or optional extra charges, and compare prices and terms & conditions between different hirers. There's a good chance that the cost of hire will be lower too if booked in advance.

Insurance

You can expect to be offered a fairly bewildering array of additional insurances, particularly if hiring from an independent hirer within your resort rather than a well known international brands.

UMP(Uninsured Motorist Protection) – additional insurance in the event of injury or death caused by a hit-and-run driver or by an under-insured driver

Car hire excess insurance

Rather than pay the hire company's 'Super' insurance premium to reduce possible excess payments in the event of a claim it might be cheaper to take the hirer's standard product and insure separately with a car hire excess reimbursement insurance policy.

Theft

Check the rental agreement carefully. Additional theft cover is recommended if not included as standard.

In an emergency

If a hire car is involved in an accident or stolen, insurance cover and refunds may be linked to conditions such as a requirement to report the incident within a set period of time. As a general rule, contact the rental company immediately, together with the police, asking them to produce a written incident report for the hire company.

An emergency telephone number and an accident report form should be supplied at the time the car is rented.

Compulsory equipment and penalties

Local rules may require drivers to carry (and use if/when required) certain items of safety equipment such as a warning triangle, first aid kit or reflective jackets.

Warning triangle

It's important to make sure you understand local rules but, as loose items like this can go missing from hire cars over time, it's important to check that the car is correctly equipped too.

Fines for not having the required equipment on board can be stiff depending on the perceived seriousness of the offence. Police can levy an on-the-spot fine or can take a much higher 'deposit' to cover the maximum fine until the dispute goes to court.

Fuel tank – full or empty?

There are two different approaches possible here and you may, or may not be able to choose which to take.

Supplied full, return full – You only pay for the fuel you need and the fuel you use as long as there's a filling station close to the return location where you can fill the car. Service charges for filling the tank if you don't return it full are likely to be very high and charged direct to your credit card.

Supplied full, return 'empty' – You're charged up-front for a full tank of fuel and can return the car with as much or as little fuel in it as you like. This can be an advantage if you're planning a lot of driving as you won't need to find a filling station immediately before returning the car, but it can be a very expensive option if you're only visiting a small island or don't intend to do much driving.

For peace of mind

Damage – check the car for damage with an employee from the car rental company before signing a rental agreement, and again when the vehicle is returned. Have the damage-free condition confirmed in writing, or note any damage. Disputes can sometimes arise after you arrive home so it’s a good idea to take photographs for your own records of any pre-existing damage or of any damage that occurred while the car was in your care.

Controls – Check all the switches, indicators and other controls carefully and if any are unfamiliar or don't work, ask the rental firm for guidance

Refuelling – check the refuelling requirements in advance and keep fuel bills as proof of a full tank when the vehicle is returned. Consider taking a photograph of the fuel gauge, particularly if dropping the car off without a hire company employee present.

Insurance cover – third-party insurance is a must but in some countries the minimum statutory cover may be higher and if cover is insufficient, the hirer is personally liable for the excess. There may be a charge to increase cover.

Additional insurance – if you can, choose comprehensive damage cover without an excess, but check what is actually covered as some may exclude damage to tyres, rims, the underbody or stone chips.

Theft insurance – recommended if this is not included in the comprehensive insurance.

Receipts - keep receipts for all fuel purchases and toll payments in case of later dispute over possible non-payment or misfuelling.

Agreements in writing – make sure that all agreements and the rental agreement are given in writing. Ask for an English version or a version in a familiar language.

Credit card and documents – it's impossible to rent a car without a credit card – the card must have sufficient funds on it too – but enquire in advance which other documents you will need (driving licence, ID card, IDP etc.) You will need to have held a driving licence for at least one year.

Hidden costs – watch out for hidden costs

extra fees for drivers under the age of 25, and for additional drivers

VAT added to the rental price

cleaning costs that are often charged as an extra, but should be included in the overall hire charge

additional road-use charges (other than tolls) that may be applied in some countries

additional charges for crossing an international border

service and refuelling charges (customary if refuelling rules are not observed)

extra costs for accessories such as child seats.

Age restrictions – some car rental companies stipulate a minimum age of 21-25 while others set a maximum age. If you don't meet the age requirements you will have to pay more or may not be able to rent a car.

Breakdowns and accidents – ask what you should do in the event of a breakdown, accident or theft, i.e., whether the police have to be notified, whether an accident report is required, or whether it is sufficient to inform the car rental company immediately? Have you been given an emergency contact number?

Rules of the road – make sure you understand the local rules of the road and any compulsory equipment requirements. You may be required to carry a warning triangle, reflective jacket(s) or first aid kit for example. Check the car to make sure that it's suitably equipped and ask the rental firm to provide any necessary items that are missing.

If you feel uncomfortable about the car, or if you discover defects, exchange it as soon as possible.